Sox sponsorship isn't a hit with Oak Park parents

All youth baseball and softball squads to wear variations of South Side team's uniforms

December 16, 2012|By Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune reporter

Debbie McCann, whose daughters Rachel, center, and Emily are in Oak Park's youth league, says a Sox patch on team uniforms would have been a better option. (John J. Kim, Chicago Tribune)

Cubs and White Sox fans in Oak Park, whether they like it or not, will have something to root for together next year — the White Sox.

Or at least smaller versions of the White Sox, in a rainbow of colors.

Oak Park Youth Baseball & Softball, with similar organizations in Elmhurst, Downers Grove and Elmwood Park, has partnered with the Chicago White Sox for the upcoming season. The pro team will provide young ballplayers with jerseys and caps that are variations of White Sox uniforms, and each youth team's name will include at least the word "Sox."

Gone are the uniforms of the Padres and Cardinals — and even the Cubs — that adorned Oak Park T-ball players for decades. And while some Cubs-loyal parents snarl at the very thought of an all-White Sox league, most are simply mourning the loss of each team's legacy and wondering how on earth people will tell the more than 120 different teams apart.

"Baseball and softball has always been a big part of Oak Park culture," said Vic Vanek, 45, who has two sons in the league. "But this idea, to me — the best word I can come up with is goofy. You want your teams to have some identity. 'Hey, I'm a Cardinal.' 'Hey, I'm a Pirate.' 'Hey, I'm a Royal, and these are my guys with me.'"

Bill Sullivan, president of the Oak Park youth league, said details of the team names are still being worked out, but he expects some will carry names like "White Sox Yellow" or "White Sox Red." The teams that long carried the names of local sponsors will continue to do so, but instead of Cardell's Crushers it will be Cardell's Crushers Sox.

Sullivan said he understands some parents' confusion or frustration with the decision, but he said money the league saves on uniforms will allow it to invest more in everything from field improvement and equipment to scholarships that will offset league fees so more children are able to play.

"I don't really care if it was the White Sox that approached us or the Cubs, or even if the Colorado Rockies had approached us," Sullivan said. "It would've been irresponsible of us as a league not to accept this offer."

The White Sox also will give coaches in all four suburbs free coaching clinics as well as training videos from the team's position coaches. And players will be able to attend White Sox baseball clinics and camps at reduced prices.

Chicago Cubs spokesman Julian Green said the team sponsors two youth leagues in Chicago, the Oz Park Baseball Association and the Warren Park Youth Baseball League, but those players don't wear Cubs uniforms. The Cubs also fund the Chicago Cubs RBI League (RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), which is run by the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs. Those teams do wear Cubs-style uniforms.

For the White Sox, having entire youth leagues draped in Sox gear is an obvious win. Brooks Boyers, White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the team recently conducted a study that found youths are receptive to the White Sox brand.

"We scaled really well with kids, and that's a future fan base," Boyers said. "Our job in the market is to continue to grow the game of baseball and make it interesting and fun. They'll learn the game with a White Sox cap on their head or a White Sox jersey on."

Regarding the White Sox-Cubs rivalry, Boyers said it certainly exists, but the team found that the people in charge of the suburban youth leagues could see past team loyalties to the advantages that would come from a partnership.

"Some of these league directors will tell us, 'Hey, I'm a Cubs fan,' but what these leagues are looking for is, 'How do I make my league better?'" Boyers said. "Even the most ardent Cubs fan, if they take a step back, would say this is good for the league and that's all that matters."

Ryan Issel, an Oak Park parent and lifelong Cubs fan, agrees with Boyers' assessment — at least generally. But he still bristles at the thought of his 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter donning White Sox uniforms.

"To go to every game now and see Sox, Sox, Sox, Sox," Issel said. "It annoys me. I think if it benefits the overall league and helps people who maybe can't afford it, then I'm all for it. But I don't understand why the whole uniform has to say 'Sox.'"

Issel and other parents with ties to the teams their children have been on for years will have some adjusting to do.

Debbie McCann has two daughters in the youth league and her husband is an assistant coach for the Padres.

"It surprised me when we were first assigned to the Padres how much we loved being a part of that team and learning the lore and the history and the families that have been on the team for years and years," McCann said. "I think it's great for the league to enter into partnerships, but could it be done with a different impact on the players and the families? Could they provide that sponsorship money as a patch on their uniforms or some other visual reminder other than the entire uniform?"

Vanek agrees.

"Think about it on a Saturday in mid-June, going on a bike ride down the street and seeing everybody clad in White Sox uniforms," he said. "Or going to a game and trying to figure out which team is which. It's got to be a logistical nightmare."

Sullivan said he's confident his league and the other suburban leagues will find a way to differentiate the multitude of junior White Sox teams.

"What's important here is a Major League Baseball team is trying to communicate to youth baseball and softball players that what we're doing is important," he said. "The association with a team name we also respect and understand. For years we've wanted people to honor that. But I'm certain that people, once we come up with team names again, will embrace those with just as much enthusiasm as they have in the past."